Lyneham High hep A scare

ACT Health is offering vaccines to staff and students at a Canberra high school after it was revealed they could have been exposed to hepatitis A.

A canteen worker at Lyneham High School has tested positive to the virus which causes an infection of the liver.

Acting Chief Health Officer Dr Andrew Pengilley says only people who ate food prepared at the canteen between October 17 and November 4 are at risk, and even then the risk of contracting hepatitis A is very low.

"The food handler worked at the canteen while unknowingly infectious, and a person can be infectious for up to two weeks before symptoms appear," he said.

"We're recommending vaccines for those people who have eaten food that has actually been prepared at the canteen. The canteen sells a whole lot of other things that are pre-prepared, commercial products like fizzy drinks - the risk to people having consumed those is negligible.

"However, we would say to parents if you're not really sure, then the vaccine is certainly available."

Dr Pengilley says vaccinations will be offered to staff and students next week.

The vaccine is a post exposure treatment to reduce the chances of people developing hepatitis A.

"In this particular instance, it is a precautionary measure that we're taking because we have a measure that can actually reduce that risk," he said.

A letter will be sent home to all parents explaining the potential risks and symptoms of the virus.

Symptoms of hepatitis include loss of appetite, abdominal pain and tenderness, nausea and vomiting, fever, dark urine and yellowing of the skin and eyes.

But Dr Pengilly says the symptoms are often mild in young people and usually resolve without treatment.